Suspected Karimojong warriors kill Kotido LC III chairperson

Suspected Karimojong warriors shot and killed Mario Lotyang Lokaino, the LC III chairperson of Kotido sub-county in Kotido district, on Saturday evening.Lokaino was gunned down around 8:00 pm at Lokitelebu trading centre. The incident occurred during a period of relative calm in the sub-region following security operations and peace dialogues aimed at curbing criminal activity.Mt. Moroto Regional police spokesperson, Michael Longole, confirmed the attack, stating that security forces responded swiftly, but the assailants had already fled the scene.Longole said the motive behind the murder is still unclear, and a manhunt for the perpetrators is ongoing. Joint intelligence officers and internal security teams are working to gather leads on those responsible for the killing.This marks the fifth murder of a local leader in Kotido district between 2022 and 2024. In April 2022, Longole Aped, the vice chairperson of Napumpum sub-county, was shot dead while allegedly leading a team of armed warriors to raid cattle. A month later, his superior, Paul Lowok, was also killed by armed warriors.In July 2022, Daniel Akom, the speaker of Kapeta sub-county, was shot dead by the same group. A year later, in July 2023, Moses Lomuria, the LC III chairperson of Longaroe sub-county, was killed alongside three security officers in an attack at Narubela trading centre.The Karimojong warriors have been targeting local leaders, accusing them of leaking information about their movements and cattle raids to security forces.{loadposition inarticle}

Suspected Karimojong warriors shot and killed Mario Lotyang Lokaino, the LC III chairperson of Kotido sub-county in Kotido district, on Saturday evening. Lokaino was gunned down around 8:00 pm at Lokitelebu trading centre. The incident occurred during a period of relative calm in the sub-region following security operations and peace dialogues aimed at curbing criminal activity.

Mt. Moroto Regional police spokesperson, Michael Longole, confirmed the attack, stating that security forces responded swiftly, but the assailants had already fled the scene. Longole said the motive behind the murder is still unclear, and a manhunt for the perpetrators is ongoing.

Joint intelligence officers and internal security teams are working to gather leads on those responsible for the killing. This marks the fifth murder of a local leader in Kotido district between 2022 and 2024. In April 2022, Longole Aped, the vice chairperson of Napumpum sub-county, was shot dead while allegedly leading a team of armed warriors to raid cattle.

A month later, his superior, Paul Lowok, was also killed by armed warriors. In July 2022, Daniel Akom, the speaker of Kapeta sub-county, was shot dead by the same group. A year later, in July 2023, Moses Lomuria, the LC III chairperson of Longaroe sub-county, was killed alongside three security officers in an attack at Narubela trading centre.

The Karimojong warriors have been targeting local leaders, accusing them of leaking information about their movements and cattle raids to security forces..